THE United States will no longer be part of the World Health Organisation following its withdrawal from the UN body set to take place in January 2026.
The United Nations also confirmed that the UN body has received an official letter from President Donald Trump this week.
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the US withdrawal was set in motion following Trump’s pledge on Monday—his first in office—to pull out from the WHO and to put an end to future funding of the organisation.
“I can confirm we have now received the US letter on the WHO withdrawal. It is dated 22 January 2025. It would take effect a year from yesterday, on 22 January 2026,” Haq said.
Trump also directed the new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the director of the US government’s Office of Management and Budget to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, supports, or resources to the WHO.”
Meanwhile, Washington has recalled all US government personnel working with WHO and ordered them to cease participating in operations and negotiations on a WHO-led global treaty on dealing with pandemics.
With the departure of the US, the organisation is set to lose its most important financial arm. The US contributes about 18 per cent of the WHO’s total funding.
Between 2024 and 2025, the US government has contributed around $261 million. China, a critical and another important member of the organisation, is the second biggest funder with $181 million.
